The effectiveness of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing

Eye Movement 16
“EMDR is a treatment that resolves long-standing traumatic memories within a few
treatment sessions. During EMDR treatment, the client is asked to hold in mind an image
of the trauma, a negative self-cognition, negative emotions, and related physical
sensations about the trauma. While doing so, the client is instructed to move his or her
eyes quickly and laterally back and forth for about 15 to 20 times following the
therapist’s finger. The client then reports the images, cognitions, emotions, and physical
sensations that emerged. This recursive procedure continues until desensitization of
troubling material is complete and positive self-cognitions have replaced the previous
negative self-cognition”(Shapiro, 1995, p. 55).
Theoretical Framework
In the following paragraphs an examination of the theories that underlie EMDR’s
treatment effects are examined. For the most part, these theories have come about after the fact
and have not been proven or disproven as reasonable explanations for these treatment effects.
The physiology of the brain leaves much to the unknown. Therefore, it is difficult to confirm the
theories that are thought to underlie EMDR.
One factor that gives creditability to EMDR is that there may be a biological basis for
why it works. Eye movements used in the procedure are similar to those that occur naturally
during dream states. It is believed that one of the functions of dreaming is to integrate
incomplete or unfinished experiences from the preceding day (week or month)—that is,
experiences not fully thought through and assimilated at the time of occurrence. In the same
manner, EMDR seems to allow the brain to access and reprocess “unfinished business” from past
traumatic events (Shapiro, Forrest, 1997).